Switzerland appoints Dr Thomas Oertle as new Ambassador to Ghana, Benin and Togo

The Embassy of Switzerland in Accra has announced the appointment of Dr Thomas Oertle as Switzerland’s new Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo.

The Embassy, in a statement issued on Friday, August 14, said Dr Oertle brings extensive diplomatic and international cooperation experience to his new assignment.

Prior to his appointment, he served as Switzerland’s Head of Mission in Muscat, where he was responsible for diplomatic relations with the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Yemen.

He previously served as Regional Head for Swiss International Cooperation in the Horn of Africa, based in Nairobi, with oversight of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

His diplomatic career has also included serving as Head of the Middle East and North Africa Division of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Bern. He was also Deputy Head of Mission and later Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Switzerland in Damascus, where he covered Syria and Iraq.

Before entering the diplomatic service, Dr Oertle pursued studies in molecular biology and neuroscience at ETH Zurich and the Neuroscience Center Zurich, earning a doctorate in natural sciences.

Commenting on his new posting, Ambassador Oertle said he was eager to deepen Switzerland’s longstanding partnerships with Ghana, Benin and Togo through dialogue and stronger engagement with stakeholders across government, business, academia, civil society and the cultural sector.

“Diplomacy is ultimately about people. I want to listen to different perspectives, bring people and ideas together, and identify areas where Switzerland and its partners can pursue common interests,” he said.

The Embassy said Switzerland’s relations with the three West African countries span several areas, including political dialogue, trade and investment, economic cooperation, climate action, peace and security, as well as growing exchanges between people and institutions.

It reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to strengthening these partnerships based on mutual respect, shared interests and closer cooperation.